couples race report

the numbers
total time: 1.24.25
swim: 21.00m
t1: 2.15
bike: 34.42m 24.2mph average
t2: 51 seconds
run: 25.34 8.15 average

i was paired up with a guy from T3 our team was in the mixed friends combined age 65 and up category...i was the first female in that category in my age group...uh confusing...but funny none the less...

got to the race site early...was one of the first ones in transition...i like that...i get the rack i want...end near the bike in/out...able to get my bearings...get a warm-up swim in...and just get settled...it's fun and funny to watch people getting ready for a race...a sprint to be specific...i saw folks loading bikes up with all this hydration and nutrition...is that really necessary...

around 7.30 we had a team photo...there were a ton of T3 folks out there...way out numbering any of the other groups...we also had many out there on the course as volunteers...saw lots of other folks out there too...from cap tex group and other places...nice to see them...

had the pre-race meeting...couldn't hear a word of it...but generally understood that the buoy we all thought was way too far away to be the one we were swimming to was actually the one we were swimming to...hrrrm...that got me worked up a bit...having those...how can i possibly swim that far (having really know idea how far it is...it just looks really far)...then me saying the whole course is two barton springs laps...you know you can swim that...anyway...i was worked up a bit...pesky of me...two waves started then our wave (i think was either the biggest or second biggest) my first co-ed start...was fine...not too much bumping around...found some toes after awhile...but had a really hard time sighting...had to bob a couple times to get my bearings...but by the time i rounded the first buoy i was over my nerves and just trying to stick to some toes that had a blue jersey on...i thought was perhaps one of my team mates...it was...that was nice...ended up feeling like the swim was a struggle...and slower than i had hoped...it was...but that is ok...

the jog up to transition was up hill...but good...trying to get the water out of my ears...and getting my breathing steady...grabbed the bike...no shoes on it...cause i was right next to bike out/mount line...and didn't have shoes with a loop to help get them on...would have been fine except the two girls directly in front of me stopped on the mount line...i was too close to get around them so had to wait (omg like a minute!) for them to get a move on...but i just put the hammer down and got the bike moving...glad the first part of the course was not as hilly as the later...my legs were burning on some of those hills...but i kept my cadence and speed up when i could...and did a lot of passing people...flying dismount with shoes on the bike and into and out of transition in no time...grabbed the emergency gel out of the bento box...just in case...and was off on the run...

was a little worried about the "off road" run...but i heard it was pretty good and not too hard to see where you were going...clicked off the first mile in 8m :) that made me happy...grabbed a Gatorade at the aid station (warm...yum) and kept up my pace for mile two...then came the hill...it felt huge...my legs were moving...but not very fast...people were walking...i kept running or at least what i thought i was doing was running...guess it was...then finally hit the top and could see the finish line...picked it up a bit...and crossed just behind my partner...funny...

overall i was happy with my race...i could always get better on the swim...and i will try...and practice so i can be...i had fun and finished with a smile on my face...hung in the group tent afterwards and wandered around talking to folks...thanks to all of you who were out there cheering...always appreciated :)